Shloka 17
दोषज्ञस्सति सामर्थ्ये कोऽन्यो भाषितुमर्हति।वर्जयित्वा मम ज्येष्ठं त्वां च वानरसत्तम।।।।
doṣajñaḥ sati sāmarthye ko 'nyo bhāṣitum arhati | varjayitvā mama jyeṣṭhaṃ tvāṃ ca vānarasattama ||
Ó melhor dos macacos, quando há a capacidade de reconhecer faltas, quem mais seria digno de falar assim—senão meu irmão mais velho e tu?
'You who are equal to Rama in valour and strength, will continue to be the gift of gods to us for long.
FAQs
Dharma includes restraint in judgment: even if one can see others’ faults, the righteous speak with humility and fairness rather than arrogance.
Lakṣmaṇa commends Sugrīva’s manner of speaking, elevating him alongside Rāma as uniquely fit to speak self-reflectively and responsibly.
Sugrīva’s humility and ethical speech—capacity for criticism tempered by self-awareness.